With the Write Traits

 On your notes, make a list of all the information you need to include in your letter.  What other information might be helpful to include?  Put a star next to the three most important things to include.

 Organize your list of ideas by putting them in the order you will write about them in your letter.  How should you begin the letter?  How should you end the letter?  Should your most important information be explained first, last, or somewhere in the middle?

 What is tone?  Why are you writing this letter?  To whom are you writing? (Who is your audience?)  Which tone would be best for you purpose and your audience?  Make a short list of words you should use for this tone and a list of words you should avoid?

 Why are strong words important?  In your letters, circle all your helping verbs  Make a list of better verbs (remember, a verb shows action like dance, hurry, sing, etc.  You do not have to change all of the helping verbs, but do change a few.

 Is  Am  Are  Was  Were  Be  Being  Been  Has  Have  Had  Do  Does  Did  Shall  Will  Should  Would  May  Might  Must  Can  Could

I love my dog Sasha. She is cute. She is black. She has white spots around her eyes. She has a short tail. Her tail is short because it got run over once. She has a little black nose. She has one ear that stands up. She has another ear that lies down. She has a pink tongue. She licks everyone. Sasha is curious. Sasha digs holes. Sasha looks for things in the holes. She dug up a bone once. She stuck her nose down a deep hole once. She got surprised when she heard bees. Sasha got stung and ran away.

I love my dog Sasha. She is cute and black with white spots around her eyes. She has a short tail because it got ran over last year, a little black nose, and one ear that lies down. Sasha licks everyone with her pink tongue. Because she is curious, Sasha looks for things in the holes she digs. She dug up a bone yesterday. Once, Sasha stuck her nose down a deep hole only to be surprised by the sound of bees. She got stung and ran away.

 Read your letter to a partner. Then switch.  While you are reading, underline any spots that seem choppy.  While you are listening, tell your partners when you hear a part that sounds choppy

 Why is editing important?  Who, besides you, could edit your paper?  What should an editor be looking for?  Reread your letter. Look for problems that need correcting and mark them.

 At the bottom of your notebook paper, answer the following questions IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. 1. Which writing trait was your BEST when you first wrote this letter? How do you know that? 2. What writing trait do you think you need to work on the most this year? Why? (Be specific) 3. Which of the six (plus one) writing traits do you think is the most important for good writing? Why do you think so?

 Rewrite your letters using your notes and your marked first drafts.  Make adjustments in what information you include, what order to you write your ideas, what tone you use, what verbs you use, etc.  Fix problems with conventions and choppy sentences.

 As we did before, score your own paper on the back or a separate sheet of paper.  When you finish, switch with a partner and repeat the process.

 Did your scores improve at all?  What did you do better with?  What do you still need to work on?